Jain Irrigation wins Financial Times / Arcelor Mittal Boldness in business award for Environment
Only Indian company to be nominated among the 36 nominees across 6 categories
Selected for the award among 6 International companies in the Environment category.

London, 17 March, 2011 - Jain Irrigation boldly sold the concept of drip irrigation in eightees when others merely sold drip hardware. Jain have thrived on challenges and excelled in areas like innovation and conservation. Their ability to build a sustainable enterprise got its due recognition when Lakshmi Mittal and Lionel Barber of FT handed over the prestigious Financial Times (FT) / ArcelorMittal environment award in a glittering ceremony in London attended by India’s High Commissioner to UK Mr Nalin Suri, leading business men and CEO’s of over 40 international companies.

The FT Arcelor Mittal Boldness in Business Awards instituted 3 years ago are given to companies that excel in the following 6 categories: Drivers of Change; Corporate Responsibility; Environment; Entrepreneurship; Emerging Markets; Newcomer; and Person of the Year. FT Arcelor Mittal Boldness in Business Awards recognizes the work of companies that are doing yeomen service in their chosen field and at the same time are holding an impeccable record in the area of innovation, CSR and environment.

Judges are chosen from heads of corporations to Deans of Institutions and Publications across countries. The unsolicited and thorough shortlisting of candidates is done after extensive visits to the company and their customers by the FT representatives. Among the companies shortlisted for this category of awards included Vestas and Novo Nordisk of Denmark, Natura of Brazil, Munich Re and Puma of Germany.

One of the eminent jury on the panel of judges for the award Mr John Authers who is Head of Lex said that Jain Irrigation has worked tirelessly against innumerable odds to drive the growth of what is a simple, yet highly effective technology. Once barren land could now be successfully cultivated, and fields that were already farmed could deliver considerably higher yields. He said that with more than 80% of India water usage going to agriculture, this makes a real difference to the environment too.

Anil Jain in his acceptance speech said, "This award belongs to farmers of India who boldly take the risk against the vagaries of nature". He said that they have serviced over 25 lac farmers in India mostly in the western and southern parts of the country. The northern parts are also growing slowly.

Furthermore as per Mr Jain, what Jain Irrigation has done differently is its solution based integrated approach towards making farming for small and marginal farmers remunerative. Jain Irrigation continues to work for increasing their farm productivity ensuring food security.

This is the fourth Environment related award that Jain Irrigation has received in the last two years. The others include the prestigious Global Cleantech 100 ranking, IFC world bank group and the Water Digest Best Water Company award.

About Jain Irrigation -
Jain Irrigation is a diversified Company with a market capitalization of Rs. 7000 crores. Jain’s product portfolio includes Irrigation Products, Piping Products, Plastic Sheets, Dehydrated Foods, Fruit Puree and Juice concentrates. Jain Irrigation has pioneered drip irrigation for small farmers in India and has a lion’s share in India, which is one of the fastest growing micro irrigation markets. Jain has a growing presence in the renewable energy segment and is the largest player in applications of solar energy in agriculture and rural areas. Solar Pumps, Water heating systems and various PV appliances have made big inroads in the market. The company’s focus will grow in this sector.

JAIN have 22 manufacturing plants in 4 continents, 94 sales offices and 52 depots in 120 countries. 7068 components are manufactured at their own plants. They are the only integrated irrigation-solution provider in the world. They have a workforce of over 7000 people. Out of these, more than 1500 are engineers, agronomists and field officers, working closely with the farmers.